Spine microsurgery training centre @ Ganga
Executive Director of Lions Aravind Institute of Community Ophthalmology Mr.R.D.Thulasiraj speaking at inauguration of a spine microsurgery training centre at Ganga Hospital in Coimbatore on Thursday. The creation of access to quality medical care for all sections of society, outreach as one of the effective methods of achieving this and compassion as the main pricing strategy were stressed here on Thursday by the Executive Director of the Lions Aravind Institute of Community Ophthalmology R.D. Thulasiraj.
Speaking on ‘Equity in Healthcare- Making Technologies Affordable to All’, at a function organised by Ganga Hospital here to mark the opening of the Ganga Spine Microsurgery Training Centre, Mr. Thulasiraj pointed out that there were greater inequities between countries and also between various sections within a country in the area of healthcare availability. “Economic divide is one of the major reasons and this has even led to the full market potential of any technology not being exploited,” he said. Mr. Thulasiraj was pointing out that the lack of affordability prevented the use of technology by some sections. “This even stunts technology development.”
Local production and the use of proven technology could make treatment affordable to many. There must be innovation in the area of pricing also. Affordability could be brought about by using low-cost production technology.Mr. Thulasiraj said that such an approach was tried out by the Aravind Eye Care System in the manufacture of intra-ocular lens. “We now export the lens to 120 countries and meet the demand from seven per cent of the global market.” The lens was inexpensive but met all quality standards.Mr. Thulasiraj also stressed patient patronage for technology and products. Patients should make use of these. Only then would economy of scale be ensured.Opening the new centre, Chairman of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Rush University Medical Centre in the U.S. Gunnar Andersson said it was heartening to note that India produced well-trained and skilful orthopaedic and spine surgeons. He complimented Ganga Hospital for establishing a training centre that would provide an opportunity for skill development in spine surgeons.
Listing the objectives behind the setting up of the centre, Director and Head of the Department of Orthopaedics and Spine Surgery S. Rajasekaran said the availability of spine surgery courses was less. Wherever available, it was costly and without the platform to obtain clinical knowledge.For instance, skill development was necessary in the field of micro discectomy (spinal surgery) that reduces pain and speeds up post-surgical recovery.Dr. Rajasekaran also explained what the new centre contained, including the Rs.45 lakh sophisticated training equipment. To state how beneficial this centre would be, he cited the example of the microsurgery training centre the hospital established in 2000 having trained 171 doctors from within the country and abroad. “Aravind Hospital is our role model in using modern technology for community service,” he said.